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WITNESSzW Jan. 27, 1931. T. F. VINDAL 1,790,610

' ELECTRIC FIXTURE ATTACHMENT 4 Filed Jan. 7, 1929 ZVm/AJJ? VIA ga e BYMy ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 27, 1931 UNITED STATES THOMAS F. V'INDAL, OFNEW YORK, N. Y..

nnncTnrc-rrx'rnnn ATTACHMENT Application filed January 7, 1929. SerialNo. 330,886.

This invention relates to improvements in electric fixture attachmentsin general and to cable outlet box connectors in particular.

The primary object of the invention resides in a connector attachmentfor cable knock-out boxes to which a cable may be firm- 1y connected toassure a positive ground in the event that all of the knock-out openingsare occupied by other cables, which eliminates the usual practice ofeffecting an improvised connection. I

Another object is to provide a connector which may be removably clampedto the rim I of an outlet box regardless of the shape of 1 the rim, andwhich includes other clamping means for receiving and holding the cableto be connected.

A further object is the provision of a connector attachment for outletboxes which is accessible without disturbing the surrounding supportingsurface, such as the laths, plaster and beams, thus effecting a savingof time and labor when access is required thereto. A still furtherobject is to provide an outlet box connector which is simple ofconstruction, inexpensive of manufacture, easy and quick to apply to anoutlet box, and.

highly efficient for thc,purpose, intended.

\Vith these and other objects in View, the

invention resides 1n certain novel construc-- tion and combination andarrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter,fully described, are particularly 5 pointed out in the appended claims,and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, ,in l which Figure l isa vertical sectional view through an'elcctrical fixture anchorageshowing my cable box connector in use.

Figure 2 is a' perspective view of the con-' hector per se. 4

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional View on the line 3-3 ofFigure 2. Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view 011 the line 44 ofFigure 3. v

Figure 5' is a detail perspective view of the body of the connector".Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of .the flexible clamping jaw perse.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the numeral 10designates my improved cable 'box connector in its entirety, whichincludes a body 11 of U-shape in cross section, one side wall or flange12 being straight while the opposite side wall-13 is slightly higher andis curved or bowed lengthwise for a purpose to be presently ex plained.Extending outward from the bowed wall 13 is an ear or boss 1% having abore or opening 15 extending therethrough. i clamping set screw 16 isthreaded in the boss at right angle to the axis of the bore 15 andenters the bore to clamp the wire to be held therein.

Threaded in the side wall 13 adjacent opposite endsare set screws 1? and18, while disposed within the space between the side walls of. the bodyis a'fiexible clamping jaw 19 which is normally straight but capable ofbeing flexed for clamping engagement with the curved rim of a roundoutlet box. Une end of the jaw bent beyond one end of the body into atongue 20 which has a slot 21. therein for the passage of the set screw17. The screws 17 and 18 act as clamping screws to forcethe flexible jawtightly against the rim of' a cable box which seats between the flexiblejaw and the side wall 12. The screw '17 also acts as a means forconnecting the flexible jaw with the body to prevent accidentalseparation of these parts.-

In Figure 1 of the drawingsJ have shown. my invention in use upon aninstalled cable knock-out or outlet box A which may be ofany'configuration such as square or round, and into which B. X. cables Benter through the usual knock-out openings provided therein. The tubularstud C from which the electric fixture is suspended is threadedlyconnected to anipple D projecting from the outlet box, while a canopy Eheld upon the stud fits against the ceiling or supporting structure F,whereby the cablebox is concealed from view. In instances where all ofthe knock-out openings of a box are occupied by cables, my connector 10is secured to the rim of the outlet box to receive the additional cableG to be grounded thereon. To attach the connectorto the rim of the box,the U- that the rim lies between the wall 12 and the ilexible clampingjaw 19. The operator merely screws inwardly upon the clamping set screws17 and 18, causing the jaw to coact with the wall 12 to grip the rim.,By making the jaw 19 flexible, 1t automatically adapts itself to thegeneral shape of the rim, as for instance, if the box is squareor flatsided, the jaw will remain in its natural flat positon parallel with theside wall 12, but should the outlet box be round, the flexible resilientjaw will adapt itself to the curvature thereof upon tightening of thescrews 17 and 18 as shown in dotted lines in F igure' 4 of the drawing.After-the connector has been attached to the outlet box, the cable G ispassed through the opening 15 and the set screw 16 tightened to securelyhold the cable and effect a positive ground as it will be understoodthat all the circuits-leading into an outlet box are grounded thereon.

It will be seen that access may be had to the connector withoutdisturbing the plaster, laths or other support, as it is only necessaryto uncover the cable box A by lowering the canopy E over the stud C.

Both the body and flexible resilient jaw are constructed of conductingmaterial so that a ivire securely held by the clamping screw 16 may begrounded upon the outlet While I have described what I deem to be themost desirable embodiment of my invention, itis obvious that many of thedetails may be varied without in any way departing from the spirit of myinvention, and I therefore do not limit myself to the exact details ofconstruction herein set forth nor to anything less than the whole of myinvention limited only by the appended claims.

What is'claimed as new is 1. A connector for attachment to the exteriorof electric cable outlet boxes comprising a U-shaped body, one of theside walls of which constitutes a fixed jaw, an adjustable clamping jawcarried bythe opposite side wall of said body, and clamping means onsaid body for receiving and securing an elec tric cable thereto.

2'. A connector for attachn'lent to the exterior of electric cableoutlet boxes comprising a U-shaped body, one'ot the side walls of whichconstitutes a fixed jaw, an adustable flexible resilient clan'lpingjawcarried by the opposite side wall of said body, and clamping means onsaid body for receiving and securing an electric cable thereto.

3. A connector for attachment'to the exterior of electric cable outletboxes comprising a U-shaped body, one of the side walls of said bodyconstituting a fixed clam-ping jaw, a pair of adjustable clamping screwsthreaded in the other side wall of said body, a flexible movable jawcoacting with said fixed clamping jaw and adapted to be held'in clampingposition by said adjustable screws, and cable clamping means on saidbody for firmly securing a cable thereto.

4. A connector for attachment to the exterior of electric cable outletboxes comprising a U-shaped body, one of the side walls of said bodyconstituting a fixed clamping jaw, a pair of adjustable clamping screwsthreaded in the other side wall of said body, a flexible movablejaw'loosely carried by One of said adjustable clamping screws and co-vactlng with said fixed clamping jaw and adapted to be heldin clampingpositon by said adjustable screws, and cable, clamping means on saidbody for firmly securing a cable thereto. Y

5. An electric cable connector for attachment to the rim of-an outletbox comprising a U-shaped body, one of the side walls of said bodyconstituting a clamping jaw, a pair of clamping screws threaded throughthe other wall of said body, a flexible resillent jaw within said bodyand loosely connected to one of said clamping screws for coactingengagement with said second mentioned wall, a boss formed on said bodyhaving an opening therethrough, and a set screw threaded in said bossfor clamping a cable within said opening when inserted therein.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my sig- 9 nature.

THOMAS F. VIN DAL.

